ish

I'm so sorry isaviz - I'm sure their owner will understand you were doing your best to help :D

Mine walk on the left for heeling or straigh out in front for show training. I don't think its really important, but remember if you're using a check chain make sure its on the right way for the side the dog is walking on. It really bugs me seeing someone walking a dog on a check chain with the dog on their right and the chain tight due to it being on the wrong way.

I've got one - I thought they were more designed for barking. They're thick elastic which wears their jaw muscles out quickly when they bark. Dogs would still be able to nip but would be difficult for them to bite properly. I wouldn't say they could eat with them on but they can get their tongues out to drink.

My 4 1/2 year old GSD Tiger is very sensitive and if told off for something during training takes ages to get over it. When I return from a down stay, she'll still put her ears down and look away because when we first started her training about a year ago, the instructer growled at her when she was about to get up from a down stay! Anyway, during some training last week for the trial yesterday she came in for a recall, sat and then got up to return and I grabbed her collar as she moved and said NO! It was too much and from then on, the first time I call her, no matter how happy she is before hand she'll just sit there. If I call again, she'll come in. Saying Tiger......Come! works sometimes and not others. She hears me because her ears stick up but she won't move. We were sitting on a really good score in the trial yesterday, had only lost 9 points all up and she didn't come, and then did the group stays perfectly In the first trial, we didn't do so well, and for the recall, same thing but because we weren't near a pass anyway I jumped around and waved my arms without saying anything else and she did come in, but went straight around. Also, how to stop her going straigh back around to heel. I can't tell her off because she falls apart, I've tried looking at her, not looking at her, feeding her only on the sit and not on the return. The only thing that works if I say 'wait' to her, which you can't do in the ring. I think I've made too much fuss of her when the whole recall is done well, maybe she thinks I'm praising her on her return? Any advice appreciated and thanks for letting me share Nat.

I'm having big dramas with recalls too at the moment, do you mind if I post in here or should I start a new topic? Its more to do with not coming on the first call and rushing around to finish.

Had a good training session today feeling much better. Still don't have recalls at 100% but much better than earlier in the week. Maybe she was trying to impress the kangaroos that were watching? Whens the Ballarat one? I wrote down the details of the agility/jumping one thinking it was obedience, is there an obedience one coming up? I've probably missed the closing date for entries now.

Yep, that would be great Do they have food there?

Ok - what I mean is yes I'll be there with Tiger. Sparty I would still like to follow you down please. We had hopes of passing but I have completely stuffed Tigers recall so we'll be there for a practise now.

I've only been once, just this last time, but I'll answer your q's and I'm sure if someone who knows more than me comes in here they'll answer too. The area they do the lure coursing in at KCC park is a large grassed paddock, with good fences. There are two gates, an in gate and an out gate. You buy your ticket, it has a number on it and the organiser lines people up around about 5 at a time to wait along the fence for their turn. You go in once the dog before you is on lead and moving out. You let your dog off as the lure comes past, when its finished the lure hides under some barrels and you catch your dog. My dogs don't have very good recalls and the two people in there running it were very helpful, and a lot of the dogs froze on the spot when the lure dissapeared so that made it easy to catch them. With waiting near other dogs, there was plenty of space to keep your dog away from others and when you're supposed to be lining up I'm sure if you told the organiser that you would wait over somewhere else it would be fine. My greyhound turned into a complete nutbag when his prey drive kicked in, too much so. Someone else might be able to help you with the fitness thing, I don't know how much work/fitness level of the other dogs that were there. My dogs have to be very fit for the GSD specialty shows, Indi is 9 months old and she did two runs and I think she could've easily done one or two more. It was a fantastic day- can't wait to do it again. Hope that helps Bant

I agree with Purple Julie - if your dog chases you're got a good chance! To 'train' Indi I just attached a plastic bag to the end of a rope and wizzed it around to see if she's chase it (which she did) and she's already really fit so we had no worries and she loved it. Al being an ex-racing greyhound didn't need much convincing!! Maybe above average fitness if you want your dog to have a few runs would be the go?

Also if you know anyone with racing greyhound they should be able to put you onto someone - both the blokes that I've been to have been I guess not 'registered' or anything, working from home mostly on the racing dogs but happy to accept my dogs. The one in Wodonga actually used to do the rounds of obedience clubs once a month or something which was a great idea and he had heaps of show dogs going to him.

I use them often too - Chili used to have lots of trouble with her right shoulder, it was almost impossible to get her to the standard of fitness needed for shows without making her lame. You could actually feel the lack of muscle on that side compared to her left side - she just didn't have enough muscle to keep it in place but to make the muscle she needed more weight and needed to run to build the muscle - which made her lame - and around and around. I had an excellent physio guy in Wodonga and he helped me to get her shoulder right and she hasn't had any trouble with it since. Also when she wasn't putting as much effort into her movement or was just looking off we'd have a visit to the physio and she'd usually have her back out or something - a few hours later all back to normal. I like to get them checked before I start working on their fitness before shows and then again just before the show. The non-showies like Tiger don't bother running around enough to hurt themselves I think dog chiro/physio people are highly underrated

The warehouse is what crazy clints turned into I think. I haven't seen the good rakes at the other cheapy shops but the warehouse usually has a heap of them. They're like a glow in the dark whitey/yellow colour with a black handle.

Yep - comfy handle is the go ;) I'm currently alternating between the cheapy from the warehouse and another one from Petstock, they're both as good as each other.

Poor Al is so lame this morning on the leg where he has the old racing injury I told him it serves him right for being so mean to Rosie. I don't think I'll bring him again, obviously too much excitement and I don't want him hurting himself. Hopefully next time Chili wont be in season coz she's three times madder and fitter than Indi so she'll have a ball! Does anyone know when next time is?

I was sort of talking to you too when you were talking to the ladies with the greyhounds near the gate? I was with the muzzled brindle greyhound behind them. He looks like a lovely dog

I am soooooo sorry for Al getting out of control at the end and harrassing Rosie It was really silly of me to let him off without seeing how he was first. Hope she's ok. Other than that, I had a ball! Indi and Al both loved it and can't wait to do it again! It was great to meet everyone and their dogs too.

Yay!!! :D We should have a ballarat convoy. I've got to go to GSD club before we leave, the Geelong trial is NEXT WEEKEND :p then drop Tiger off at mum and dads then zoooom down. It takes me 2 hours - you must drive too fast cloverfdch I've got a little bbq pack but if no one else is going to bbq I'll bring something else. Can't wait :D

I'm the same

Only a small animal?? People often ask "what happened there?"

I agree - a rake and a slicker brush are the go

So sorry Megzz

So do you believe they can distinguish between lure coursing and chasing the cat? Probably a dumb question sorry. She said he'd revert back to race dog Al rather than sleepy, easy going Al. I thought maybe encouraging them to chase the lure would perhaps make them less enclined to chase the cat? I'm still semi-keen to give him a shot at it Just one go to see if he did get too sore. Cat is still on holidays with my sister.

Ok I just posted a link to this thread to my greyhound email group, then I read this. Why can't greyhounds compete? Or is it only Al who won't be allowed because you don't want him too? And could someone please post details of where and when, ie what time. If I was in Melbourne I'd bring my lot along No sorry it just Al - he has an old injury to his fetlock which gets aggrevated when he runs alot and his foster carer says its a bad idea to encourage him to chase (I have a cat). Its such a shame because I know he would love it - should see him get all excited when he sees the roos here Nevermind, he can socialise instead.